The Independent National Electoral Commission has published the personal particulars and credentials of the 19 presidential candidates and their running mates for the 2027 general election, paving the way for campaigns starting on August 19.
Publication of the candidates’ Form EC9 is a statutory requirement under Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates the commission to display the personal particulars of candidates after receiving their nomination forms.
The process allows members of the public and eligible persons to scrutinise the information submitted by candidates.
According to the list displayed by INEC on Saturday, President Bola Tinubu will fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress with Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, emerged as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress and picked former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.
Former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, with former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, nominated as his vice-presidential candidate.
The publication also contains the educational qualifications, dates of birth, occupations and other personal information submitted by the candidates ahead of the August 19 commencement of presidential campaigns.
Full list of presidential candidates
Bola Tinubu – All Progressives Congress (APC)
Atiku Abubakar – African Democratic Congress (ADC)
Peter Obi – Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)
Senator Sandy Onor – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Omoyele Sowore – African Action Congress (AAC)
Donald Duke – Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)
Okwori Ada Elizabeth Frederick – National Democratic Party (NDP)
Chukwu Anita Zugwai – Young Progressives Party (YPP)
Rufai Adekunle Omoaje – Action Alliance (AA)
Adenuga Sunday – Boot Party
Memeh Samuel – Democratic Liberty Alliance (DLA)
Nwanyanwu Daniel Danerechukwu – Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)
Okereke Sunday Chibuzor – Labour Party (LP)
Okereke Iken Esther – National Rescue Movement (NRM)
Abbas-Bin Aliyu – Action Democratic Party (ADP)
Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed – New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)
Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer – Social Democratic Party (SDP)
Seyi Makinde – Allied Peoples Movement (APM)
Yusuf Kabiru – Action Peoples Party (APP)
Vice-presidential candidates
Kashim Shettima (APC)
Rotimi Amaechi (ADC)
Rabiu Kwankwaso (NDC)
Shehu Hussaini (AA)
Egbeola Olawale Mertins (YPP)
Ike Chinazam (ADP)
Mustapha Usman Turaki (Boot Party)
Balogun Alex (DLA)
Chikwuemeka Uchenna Anthony (NDP)
Magashi Haruna Garba (AAC)
Umaru Babangida (PDP)
Konto Hajja Bintu (LP)
Hassan Khalid (ZLP)
Samuel Magdalene Gali (NRM)
Abubakar Isah (NNPP)
Buba Musa (PRP)
Bugaje Usman Mohammed (SDP)
Ibrahim Adamu Bala (APM)
Ofordile Peace Egobia (APP)
Key academic and personal details
Tinubu’s credentials
According to the documents submitted to INEC, Tinubu was born on March 29, 1952.
He stated that he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University in 1979 and also disclosed that he participated in the National Youth Service Corps between December 1982 and November 1983.
The documents, however, did not contain information on his primary and secondary school education.
Shettima
Shettima indicated that he attended Lamisula I Primary School between 1972 and 1978 before obtaining his West African School Certificate from Government Secondary School, Potiskum, in 1983.
He also stated that he graduated with a Second Class Upper degree in Agriculture from the University of Maiduguri in 1989 and later earned a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan.
Atiku
Atiku’s documents show that he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1954 and his West African School Certificate in 1961.
He also declared that he earned a Master’s degree in International Relations from Anglia Ruskin University in 2020.
Amaechi
Amaechi was born on May 27, 1965, in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. He attended St. Theresa’s Primary School (1970–1976) and obtained a West African Senior School Certificate from Government Secondary School, Okolobiri, in 1982.
He obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Studies and Literature from the University of Port Harcourt in 1987, where he served as president of the National Union of Rivers State Students.
He later earned a Bachelor of Laws and related qualifications, including from Baze University and the Nigerian Law School, as well as further studies at King’s College London.
Obi
Obi’s Form EC9 states that he attended St. Augustine’s Primary School in Anambra before proceeding to Christ the King College, where he obtained his West African School Certificate in 1978.
He also declared a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, obtained in 1984.
Kwankwaso
In his affidavit, Kwankwaso declared that he was born on October 21, 1956, in Kano and is 69 years old.
His educational records showed that he obtained a Higher Diploma in Civil Engineering (Water Resources) from Kaduna Polytechnic in 1980 with Upper Credit.
The certificate attached to his submission states that he completed the approved course of study in June 1980 before being awarded the Higher Diploma by the institution’s Academic Board.
Kwankwaso also submitted his NYSC Certificate of National Service, which shows that he completed his one-year mandatory national service between August 1, 1980, and July 31, 1981.
Duke
Donald Duke stated he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in law from Ahmadu Bello University.
Sowore
Sowore submitted a master’s degree in public administration from Columbia University in New York.
Human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore
He holds BSc in Geography and Regional Planning at the University of Lagos (1989 to 1995), which had two years extension due to expulsion for political activism).
Jonathan, Olawepo Hashim absent
Notably absent from the list is former President Goodluck Jonathan, who had reportedly been nominated by the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Also missing is Gbenga Olawepo Hashim, who had laid claim to the Accord Party’s presidential ticket.
The Accord Party had earlier announced that it would not field a presidential candidate, saying none of its aspirants met the nomination deadline.
(Punch)
